io6 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



perhaps there is greater similarity between the species 

 and those of more southern localities than we have 

 hitherto found to be the case. 



Heaths have always been favourite places of ours. 

 They are never of such barren and forbidding aspect 

 as the moorlands, even in mid-winter; vegetation is 

 more generous; trees, in which we delight, are not 

 altogether absent; and most important attraction ol 

 all, bird-life in considerable variety may be found 

 upon and near them throughout the year. Although 

 many bits of heath known to us have been cleared 

 and brought into cultivation, there are not a few still 

 left where birds of various species linger unmolested. 

 For instance (to indicate but a few), there are such 

 areas in the Sherwood Forest district; here and 

 there in north Lincolnshire, in north Derbyshire, 

 and in south Yorkshire, especially in the vicinity of 

 Wharncliffe Crags, a few miles north-west of Sheffield. 

 One of the most interesting birds found upon these 

 heaths is the Nightjar, or perhaps even better known 

 by the name of Goatsucker. Like most birds pos- 

 sessing some peculiarity in note or appearance easily 

 remarked by the multitude, the present species has 

 many aliases, some of which at any rate are as un- 

 deserved as they are disastrous. Thus, that of 

 " Night-hawk " brings the bird into evil repute with 

 gamekeepers, and it is shot down in many localities 

 under the firm belief that it preys upon young 



